Our Team

Natalie Y.

Founder and Executive Director

Natalie, a high school senior from New York City, is a passionate Classicist who has been a devoted student of Latin and ancient Greek. She continually seeks opportunities to connect with others who share her enthusiasm for the Classics, and Greek and Roman history, culture, as well as philosophy.

As the captain of her school's Public Forum Debate and Ethics Bowl Debate teams, she thrives on engaging in thoughtful discourse. In addition, she serves as the president of her school's philosophy club and is the founder and editor-in-chief of its philosophy newsletter, where she leads conversations and curates content that promotes critical thinking and intellectual inquiry.

Through her extensive experience volunteering as a Latin tutor and mentor to elementary school students in under-resourced communities, Natalie recognized a need for resources that make the Classics more accessible, fun, engaging, and discoverable for young students of all backgrounds. This realization inspired her to create The Diotiman Society, a diverse and inclusive space designed to foster community and engagement among young people with a shared interest in the Classics.

The Diotiman Society aims to spark meaningful and enlightening discussions, particularly focusing on untold stories and issues of diversity and inclusion in the realm of Classics, and to promote broader awareness of valuable perspectives from antiquity.

Zac S.

Director of Outreach

Zac is a rising high school senior from San Diego who has been passionate about Classics since he first picked up a Percy Jackson book in second grade. Since then, he has intensely studied Latin and ancient Greek. His main interests and specialties revolve around classical art history. He especially loves learning about history through art. He is thrilled to be a part of The Diotiman Society team because of the opportunities it provides to connect and form friendships with others who are equally enthusiastic about the field.

Phoebe T.

Curriculum Coordinator

Phoebe is a rising high school senior, whose journey, like that of many other Classics enthusiasts, started with Percy Jackson. It has since evolved into what she describes as an ongoing symbiotic relationship with Latin. She keeps it alive and in return it provides her with purpose and comfort. Currently her favorite area of focus is Roman literature, particularly the depiction of Rome from the perspectives of its residents. As a translator, she believes her job is to convey the authors' words and message as faithfully as possible, without interference. In addition, she feels strongly about combating the historical erasure and misrepresentation that occurs as a result of poor translations. She loves pursuing activities to approximate life in Ancient Rome, like wearing stolas and tunics or cooking spicy stews with fruits, to make it feel as alive today as possible. Salvē!